Official seeks symmetry in message and action

Randy Welker has only been the city of Sarasota's economic development coordinator for six months, but his recent comments show he's an old pro at the battle between government and business.

Welker, hired for the newly created position after stints in economic development in Citrus and Martin counties, spoke to the Sarasota City Commission about his first six months on the job. A big takeaway, according to an account of the presentation in the Sarasota Observer, sister paper of the Business Review, is the city has to actually be good for business. Not merely say it is.

“Every community says its business-friendly,” Welker told the commission. “But (the public) looks at what you do.”

Welker, according to the Observer, cited a Sarasota Planning Board decision to turn down a business' request for a new sign. That, Welker says, wasn't good.

“Signage is important for every company,” Welker says. “We're sending a message with everything we do. People are watching.”

Coffee Talk couldn't agree more.